Silage waste recovery process, facility, system, and product

Abstract

A silo of conventional construction is provided with a collection pan at its bottom to collect effluent. The effluent can be stored and/or processed. Processing can include separation of water to concentrate the effluent. The effluent can contain fermentation product, such as alcohol, generated within the silo prior to collection, and it can also be fermented after collection. Processed effluent can be handled safely without risk of contamination to ground water at the silo site.

1 . A facility for obtaining a fermentation product from silage comprising at least one silage silo having a bottom, a collector at said bottom for collecting a silage juice, and one of a storage tank and separation device in communication with an outlet of said collector. 
     
     
         2 . The facility of  claim 1 , further comprising an overflow tank for collecting overflow seepage from said storage tank. 
     
     
         3 . The facility of  claim 1 , wherein said storage tank is located underground. 
     
     
         4 . The facility of  claim 1 , wherein said facility comprises a reverse osmosis separation device to separate usable water from said silage juice. 
     
     
         5 . The facility of  claim 1 , wherein said drain line comprises a filter assembly for filtering said seepage prior to collection in said storage tank. 
     
     
         6 . The facility of  claim 1 , wherein said storage tank is provided with environmental controls for promoting proper fermentation conditions in said storage tank. 
     
     
         7 . The facility of  claim 6 , where said environmental controls comprise at least one of temperature control, stirring and gas perfusion. 
     
     
         8 . The facility of  claim 1 , wherein said collector comprises a floor pan covering a bottom aperture of a tower silo to prevent egress of seepage from said silo into the surrounding foundation soil. 
     
     
         9 . The facility of  claim 1 , wherein at least one additional pump is provided to move said seepage to said storage tank. 
     
     
         10 . The facility of  claim 1 , further comprising a central processing unit for providing automated control to at least portions of said facility. 
     
     
         11 . The facility of  claim 1 , further comprising a secondary drain at a higher position on said silo for indicating seepage backup and accumulation within said silo. 
     
     
         12 . A process for treating silage seepage comprising the steps of collecting said silage seepage generated in a silo, and processing said silage seepage by one of fermentation and separation to produce a value product. 
     
     
         13 . The process of  claim 12 , wherein said value product is alcohol. 
     
     
         14 . The process of  claim 12 , wherein said value produce is ethanol. 
     
     
         15 . The process of  claim 12 , wherein said process comprises the addition of starter cultures. 
     
     
         16 . The process of  claim 12 , wherein said process comprises the addition of hydrolyzing enzymes. 
     
     
         17 . The process of  claim 12 , wherein said process comprises the addition of at least one of sugars, carbohydrates and nutrients to promote said process. 
     
     
         18 . The process of  claim 12 , further comprising the step of diluting said seepage prior to fermentation. 
     
     
         19 . The process of  claim 18 , wherein the step of diluting is accomplished using clean water. 
     
     
         20 . The process of  claim 18 , wherein the step of diluting is accomplished using liquid waste derived from downstream processing of said fermented seepage. 
     
     
         21 . The process of  claim 12 , wherein said processing comprises separating said seepage by reverse osmosis filtration to produce water and concentrated seepage. 
     
     
         22 . The process of  claim 21 , wherein said silage seepage collected from said silo contains about 0.1 to 1% alcohol by weight, and alcohol is separated from said concentrated seepage. 
     
     
         23 . The process of  claim 21 , wherein said water is potable.